Post on 12-May-2022
Our People, Our Community2015 ANNUAL REPORT
2015 Community Impact
KIDS ONEIDA 2015 ANNUAL REPORT 32 OUR PEOPLE, OUR COMMUNITY
A Letter from Our Executive Team
Chris Lambe, CPADirector of Business
and Finance
Kristen RasmussenAssociate Executive Director
of Programs and Services
Steven Bulger, MBACEO/Executive Director
Katie Weldon, LMSWAssociate Executive Director
of Clinical Services
98%of families
kept together with Kids Oneida’s support
7counties where
Kids Oneida is helping keep families together(5 new ones in 2015)
96,312contacts with
youth and families
1,356families supported
by Kids Oneidain 2015
24/7support for our
youth and families
312staff and providers
worked to keepfamilies together
in 2015
Dear Community Stakeholder,
As we wrap up our second decade coordinating care for
at-risk families in the Mohawk Valley, Kids Oneida remains
committed to our founding principles ahead of major systems
change in New York State. These founding principles have
positioned our organization to lead the way in which inno-
vative and effective services are provided to vulnerable
populations. The continuum of care provided by the staff
and independent service providers of Kids Oneida remains
rooted in quality and focused on positive outcomes. Our
comprehensive system of care is no longer only for kids,
and no longer exclusive to Oneida County, but the organi-
zation is committed more than ever to the sanctity of family.
What We DoKids Oneida remains focused on family first. In 2015 we served
over 650 families through 12 programs in 7 counties. With
services available prenatally through adulthood, preserving
family through empowerment and advocacy unifies everything
that we do. Our delivery model, which is still unduplicated in
New York State, allows us to be unwavering in our pursuit of
family preservation.
Why We Do ItMeeting the needs of our families at their level is critical to
their individual success. An investment in youth and family is
an investment in our community. While those that receive care
at Kids Oneida may not have had success in other traditional
systems, we ensure that the community based care they receive
is strengths based and results driven.
How We Do ItThe dedication to such a worthy endeavor would not be possible
without the commitment of our staff and providers. In 2015
Kids Oneida employed over 120 individuals and commissioned
nearly 200 behavioral health professionals in our comprehensive
provider network. These individuals work tirelessly day in and
day out, during the middle of the night, early in the morning,
evenings, weekends, holidays and everything in between.
On behalf of the families, staff, providers, and board of directors,
we thank you for taking the time to reflect on Kids Oneida’s
undertakings in 2015. As we look forward to 2016, we remain
focused on Keeping Families Together.
“This is Kids Oneida” – our Regular Intensive KO/ACT is our flagship program and there’s no other like it in the state. Children and families struggling with severe and chronic mental illness, behavioral health issues, emotional strife, neglect and other challenges are provided comprehensive and unique treatment plans developed specifically to them to meet them wherever they are. It’s a full system of care delivered with our Wraparound philosophy that ultimately strengthens families and keeps them together.
Our Step Down program continues the support as the family strengthens and less intensive services are needed. Because of our success, programs have also extended to families in need across seven counties.
One-on-one case manage-ment to focus on families reunifying and getting stronger.
Case Planning strives to provide
strength based interventions to
work with families in accomplish-
ing court mandated expectations
to keep families together.
A selection of services that can beutilized on an individual basis to work with children and families in the home, school and communityin whatever area they need most.
Services brought right to area schools to reduce discipline referrals, improve attendance and academic achievement, and produce cost-savings for schools and other child-serving systems.
A program to build parenting skills and reduce abusive and neglectful child rearing practices. It also helpslong separated families reestablishrelationships and helps with custodyand visitation agreements.
A nationally validatedprevention program that includes home visiting and assessment support.
Available to new and expecting
parents in Herkimer and Oneida
Counties, it provides child
development and parenting
education, connections to
medical providers, assessments
of infant-child development, and
access to community resources.
Transitional housing for homeless women ages 16-21 who are pregnant or parenting.
Provides young mothers and
their children a multitude of
services in a safe, nurturing,
home-like living environment
that focuses on empowerment –
giving women the skills and
networks they need to live
independently.
Independent assessment of all children in institutional care with the goal to return them to their families.
Identifies children in placement
throughout New York that live
in our counties served and advo-
cates for them to return home
for less intensive services. It
saves a significant amount of
money for counties and tax
payers by decreasing days of care.
How We Help Keep Families Together
Case Planning
Service Provision forIndividual Needs (SPIN)
Nurturing Parenting ProgramSupervised Visitation
Parent Partner
Kids OtsegoKids Madison
Healthy Families Evelyn’s House Return Home EarlySecond Chance
Intensive KO/ACT
Step Down
Kids Herkimer
Kids Mohawk Valley
• Individual, Family and Group Therapy
• Evaluation Services, Assessment
Outpatient
• In Home Assessment & Treatment
• Behavioral Management Services
• Group and Individual Alcohol and
Other Drug Abuse Therapy (AODA)
• Drug Prevention and Education
• Consultations with Other Professionals
• Psychiatric Reviews and Medication
Checks, Nursing Services
• Crisis Intervention and Treatment
• Crisis Assistance, Crisis Respite
• Reintegration Treatment for Youth
returning from Placement
• Recreation, Group Recreation
• Mentoring - Individual, Sibling and Peer
• Parent Aide, Parent Partners
• Rise and Shine Supervision
• Curfew Checks
• Skill Building Groups, Family Skills
Training Group
• Supported Work Environment
• Tutoring, Teacher’s Aide
• Transportation
• Life Coaching
• Discretionary Funds
KIDS ONEIDA 2015 ANNUAL REPORT 54 OUR PEOPLE, OUR COMMUNITY
CHILD WELFARE
SERVICES PARENT SUPPORT SCHOOL-BASED SERVICES
CHILDREN’S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
EARLY INTERVENTION TRANSITIONAL HOUSING JUVENILE JUSTICE
Mission:Empowering Children and Families
Vision:Keeping Families Together
100%of all children in our Step Down Program
were enrolled in an educational program
$300,000in cost avoidance in Herkimer County
by keeping children in their home with
Kids Herkimer services rather than
putting them in placement
96%of children in our Intensive
KO/ACT program remained in
their homes and out of care
100%of the young women who
exited the program at Evelyn’s House
obtained permanent housing
10,859 contacts made serving 820 children
in the Case Planning Unit.
5,052home visits made by
Healthy Families Oneida County and
Healthy Families Herkimer County
100%of families in our Kids Mohawk Valley Program
had access to a network of mental health
providers who work with the family to provide
flexible and individualized services within the
child’s home, school, and community
$5.6 MILLIONin cost avoidance to date through
our Return Home Early program
KIDS ONEIDA 2015 ANNUAL REPORT 76 OUR PEOPLE, OUR COMMUNITY
The Kids Oneida model is built on the foundation of Wraparound, and it informs every
program, service, and interaction within our agency. Our fidelity to this national, evidence-
based approach has been recognized at the state and federal levels, and we attribute much
of the success of our clients to our commitment to the ten core wraparound principles.
Each month, Kids Oneida selects a Wraparound Ambassador who embodies the principles
of the philosophy. Here are how members of our team describe it:
Wraparound | Our Guiding Philosophy Lisa Reginelli,
Evelyn’s HouseDirector
Briana,Mother at
Evelyn’s House
fter giving birth to her son Luis, Briana
was facing pressures at home. She was still in
high school, and was struggling to create the
life she wanted for her baby boy. A close friend
of hers knew another young mother who lived
at Evelyn’s House and, after visiting the home
and meeting the other women and children
living there, she decided to join us.
This was Briana’s first time living and parenting
on her own. Initially shy and reserved, it wasn’t
long before Briana began to create deep con-
nections. She sought advice from her peers and
from Kids Oneida staff, especially on parenting
techniques. Luis has always been mature for
his age and quickly adapted to his new home,
but this was the first time Briana was entirely
responsible for him. She remembers the first
time she had to discipline him on her own:
“Before, I always had my mom there, but
now I was in charge. He’d throw tantrums
and I wouldn’t know what to do, but we
made a timeout spot for him and now that
it’s a routine, his behavior is a lot better.”
After living at Evelyn’s House for 1 month,
Briana was invited to live with her son’s
father and his family. Wanting Luis to be
closer to his father, Briana moved out, but
being in a full house placed pressure on her
relationship with Luis’ dad. She said, “When
we argued, the family would be in it. It was
bad around Luis and his little cousins. It got
physical and I didn’t know what to do in that
moment. I was stuck again and I picked up
the phone and called Evelyn’s House. They
offered me the chance to come back.”
Upon returning to Evelyn’s House, Briana
was pregnant with her second son—A’Shaad—
and dedicated herself to becoming independent.
Aligned with wraparound principles, Briana’s
team supported her in setting ambitious
personal and professional development goals.
She strengthened existing connections to
community-based services and natural supports,
identified new opportunities for childcare, and
began working more at a local nursing home
to build her savings. Now, Briana is prepared
to move into her first apartment with her
two boys and has the knowledge, skills, and
connections to thrive.
A Young Mother’s Journey to Independence
Kids Oneida’s values, commitments, and approach are rooted in wraparound, a strengths-based philosophy of supporting youth and families.
“ Wraparound, just by virtue of its philosophy, puts parents and children at the helm. It makes them the determiners of their future and of the outcome. Through this, we empower parents to regain their confidence as decision makers in their own and their kids’ lives.”
– Margaret Wilson, Kids Oneida Case Planner
& 2015 Wraparound Committee Chair
“ Wraparound isn’t just about bringing a bunch of people around a table. It’s the philosophy of empowering families, their voice and choice, and having deep respect of their home and culture.”
– Megan Ayres-Gregory
Kids Oneida Clinical Supervisor
A
Ten principles of Wraparound
FAMILY VOICE & CHOICE
TEAM BASED
NATURAL SUPPORTS
CULTURALLY COMPETENT
COLLABORATION
INDIVIDUALIZED
PERSISTENCE
COMMUNITY BASED
STRENGTHS BASED
OUTCOMES BASED
Our 2015 Wraparound Ambassadors,
selected by their peers each month for
their commitment to the philosophy
“ Even though Lisa is staff, I consider her a sister more than anything. I trust her, our bond is really close, she is easy to talk to, down to earth, and my son Luis loves her.”
– Briana, with sons Luis (Age 5)
and A’Shaad (5 months)
Evelyn’s House for Young Mothers
While wraparound is essential across Kids Oneida, its
impact is especially evident at Evelyn’s House—our transi-
tional shelter and supportive program for young, homeless
mothers. Open to women ages 16-21 who are pregnant
or parenting, Evelyn’s House is a safe, nurturing home
and service hub for young moms. As most of the women
residing here are living on their own for the first time,
our wraparound approach helps them find their voices,
connect with resources in the community, and build
strengths to achieve independence and self-sufficiency.
n the day Jeannie gained custody of her
grandchildren Trevon and Brianna, her life changed
forever. Jeannie’s daughter has struggled with
drug addiction and was no longer able to care for
her children. Trevon, in particular, grew up in and
out of residential placements, and had a tough
time adjusting to life at his grandmother’s home.
After hearing about Kids Oneida from another
local non-profit, Jeannie enrolled Trevon in our
Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Program.
Almost immediately, Trevon, his sister, and grand-
mother gained access to a service coordinator,
psychiatrist, mentors, respite care, and provider
Dave Calhoun, Director of Quality Youth Services.
Dave started as a Kids Oneida provider 14 years
ago and offers a range of services, including an
innovative supportive work initiative. This service
prepares teens for careers while improving the
community through vocational training and
hands-on experience at non-profits and govern-
ment agencies. Trevon joined this group early on,
gained additional career experience through the
Summer Youth Employment Program, and this
summer, Dave is supporting Trevon in securing a
job in the community.
A dedicated worker and team player, Trevon was
one of the first teens Dave called when he found
out that the supportive work program was get-
ting an award. In addition to helping Dave accept
an award from the City of Rome’s Mayor, Trevon
was also front and center to receive the Volun-
teer of the Year Award from the Rome YMCA.
According to Jeannie, “Without Kids Oneida, I
don’t know what I would have done. There’s no
doubt in my mind that Trevon would have been
back in an institution.” Kids Oneida is proud to
offer a diverse range of services through our pro-
vider network that fit the unique needs, interests
and situations of our youth and families.
provider network that fit the unique needs, inter-
ests and situations of our youth and families.
Jeanie and Trevon would like to thank the entire
team that has supported their family including
Kids Oneida Family Service Coordinator Amy
Sharrino, Mentor Ed Ryan, Therapist Clinton
Norwood, Respite Home Provider Cornelia Brown,
and Behavior Management Provider Dave Calhoun.
Stepping Up and Giving Back
O
“ Kids Oneida is truly there to help us. When we have a prob- lem and I feel like I can’t handle things, I have six amazing people from Kids Oneida I can call on.”
– Jeanie, Trevon’s grandmother
KIDS ONEIDA 2015 ANNUAL REPORT 98 OUR PEOPLE, OUR COMMUNITY
They realized that no single non-profit organization
could ever provide the diversity of services at the capacity
and intensity required to meet the needs of our clients.
Simultaneously, they saw existing community resources
that clients lacked awareness of and clients participating
in multiple services without coordination.
The Kids Oneida Provider Network was founded to
strategically fill this niche in our region. Over the last
18 years, we have built a 192-member network that is
driven by our clients’ demand for specific services and
providers. Kids Oneida contracts with 42 independent
and non-profit provider agencies offering individualized,
non-traditional, and client-centered services. These
providers are integral members of our work with families.
In addition to providing direct services, their input and
support allows us to make informed decisions at team
meetings with our staff, children, and their families. In
2015 alone, our providers spent nearly 63,000 hours
with youth and their family members and offered over
50 unique services.
The Provider Network allows Kids Oneida to remain
focused on access to services and care coordination,
while tapping into existing resources in the community.
In addition to nurturing innovative services, our Provider
Network lends to our organization’s resilience and
expansion readiness. Due in part to the flexibility,
breadth, and geographic reach of our providers,
Kids Oneida was able to bring services to children
and families in six new counties in 2015.
A Thriving and Connected Network of Support
Dave Calhoun,Director of
Quality YouthServices
Trevon,award winningyouth that wasgiven a second
chance
Recognizing that Kids Oneida’s youth and families face complex challenges, our founders made a strategic decision.
62,838hours of services to Kids Oneida clients through our provider network
96,312 individual contacts made with youth and family members by providers
Twenty heads of agencies who represent
192 providers at Kids Oneida and 42 contracts
KIDS ONEIDA 2015 ANNUAL REPORT 1110 OUR PEOPLE, OUR COMMUNITY
MADISON
MONTGOMERY
OTSEGO
OSWEGO
DELAWARE
HERKIMERMADISON
MONTGOMERY
OTSEGO
OSWEGO
DELAWARE
HERKIMER
2015 Accomplishments
Awarded Face Forward Mentoring Grant Kids Oneida has partnered with the Oneida County Workforce
Development Board and has been granted funds as part of
the Board’s Face Forward Initiative. Our agency now provides
mentoring services to at-risk youth enrolled in this Department
of Labor funded program.
Expansion of ServicesKids Oneida brought our programs and services
to youth and families in six additional counties
through the Department of Health funded
Kids Mohawk Valley bringing our services to
Herkimer, Montgomery, Otsego, Delaware,
Madison, and Oswego counties.
New York State Office of Children and Family Services funds Co-location of Behavioral Health Staff from Kids Oneida at local Departments of Social Services Through true collaboration, a Behavioral Health clinician within
the Child Protective Services (CPS) unit of Otsego and Herkimer
Counties was approved and funded by the New York State Office of
Children and Family Services in 2015. The Kids Herkimer and Kids
Otsego Social Workers are available on site and in the field during
business hours to help train County staff and assess for the behavioral
health needs of families involved in the CPS process in each county.
Kids Oneida Night at the Syracuse Chiefs a Success as Part of Mental Health Awareness Campaign May is Mental Health Awareness Month across the
country and staff and families of Kids Oneida were
welcomed by the Syracuse Chiefs May 8th for Kids
Oneida night. In addition, our organization hosted a
number of media campaigns and events capped off
by Photovoice 2015 at The Stanley.
Kids Oneida Partners with New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services on Juvenile Justice ReformKids Oneida, in conjunction with the New York State
Division of Criminal Justice Services, was awarded a
Federal Second Chance Act Smart on Juvenile Justice
grant by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention. The joint application was one of six
awarded across the country.
Fund Development: An All Time HighThe Development Board at Kids Oneida capped off
a year full of events that helped to raise awareness
and funds for the programs and services of our
organization. Events included: Photovoice, Movie
Monday, NDL Golf Classic, Handbags with Hope,
Par 4 Kids Ladies Golf Tournament, Family of the
Year Celebration, and Kickoff for Kids.
Boys Town CollaborationIn 2015 Kids Oneida served as a training center
for Boys Town’s School Based Training. In 2015
Kids Oneida hosted multiple training sessions for
various districts across the Mohawk Valley.
Kids Oneida Takes Center Stage in San Francisco Kids Oneida was invited to present at the San Francisco
Mental Health Association’s Annual Conference:
Tools for Change. The innovative Kids Oneida model
was the center piece during a symposium
on Money and Systems
Change in the Mental
Health System.
Kids Oneida Approved to Provide Adult HCBS Services in 2016Kids Oneida has been designated by New York
State Office of Mental Health to provide Adult
Behavioral Health Home and Community Based
Services. This designation will further expand the
adult services division of the organization.
Children’s Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Demonstration Recertified for 3 yearsAs the only program of its kind in New York State,
Kids Oneida’s Children’s ACT team was approved
for a 3 year recertification of its operating license.
Kids Oneida remains positioned well for the transition
of children’s behavioral health services to Medicaid
Managed Care.
Healthy Families Oneida County Contract Officially Awarded to Kids OneidaThe Oneida County Healthy Families Program,
was awarded by the New York
State Office of Children and
Family Services to Kids Oneida
after a competitive RFP
process. The program
operates a budget of
approximately $585,000
annually.
“ The real Zack was trapped inside himself and his behaviors were making it hard for people to know who he was. What Dr. Raju did was nurture him along.”
– Melissa, Zack’s mother
1,202hours of services provided to Kids Oneida youth and families by psychiatrists and nurses at our outpatient clinic
5 clinically trained psychiatrists, nurses, staff, and providers available 24/7 to support youth and families
KIDS ONEIDA 2015 ANNUAL REPORT 1312 OUR PEOPLE, OUR COMMUNITY
Recognizing a need for accessible, comprehensive clinical
services to support the mental, behavioral, and emotional
health of children and their families, Kids Oneida was found-
ed as a licensed New York State Office of Mental Health
Outpatient Clinic in 1997. In 2012, our unique, integrated
model earned us the designation as the first Assertive Com-
munity Treatment (ACT) Program for children in the state.
Through our agency, we offer individual, family, and group
therapy for children, their caregivers, and their family
members. All youth referred for Kids Oneida services receive
mental health consultation, psychiatric reviews, and evalua-
tions by our medical and psychiatric team. When a need for
medication is identified, our psychiatrists work directly with
each child and their caregivers to explore options, create an
implementation plan, and make necessary adjustments to
dosage and prescriptions.
Together, our clinic, programs, and services provide a com-
munity-based alternative to costly and often disruptive and
unnecessary out-of-home placements. Our team manages a
crisis hotline 24/7, deploys staff trained in crisis intervention,
and assists in diverting clients from emergency room, hospi-
talization, and residential care.
Our clinical services also directly enhance our mission to keep
families together by providing comprehensive outpatient
diagnostic assessments. These psychiatric, psychological, and
psychosocial evaluations help Family Courts and Depart-
ments of Social Services better understand children’s needs.
Without this Kids Oneida service, many youth would be
required to receive these evaluations in an inpatient clinical
setting away from their family. In addition to maintaining
a child in their natural environment, our community-based
alternative can be conducted for just 10% of the cost of
inpatient assessments.
Children’s Behavioral Health ServicesDr. Raju,Medical Director
Zack, participant in Kids Oneida’s ACT Program
A Community-Based & Family Centered Model
From left to right:
Dr. Morales Brown, MD
Alyssa Trevisani, Community Liaison
Jean Garrow, RN
Dr. Jayaraju Raju, MD, Medical Director
Julie Aiken, RN
Not pictured: Cynthia Lazzaro, RN
Building Trust and Finding Strength
hen Melissa Rose tried to enroll her five-
year-old son Zack in Kindergarten in Maine,
his school turned him away, recommending
that she put him in residential care. Instead,
Melissa decided to move back to Clinton, NY
where she knew Zack would have access to
better services. A single mother of two boys
with no family in the area, Melissa reached out
to Clinton Elementary School for support, and
was referred to Kids Oneida. “Kids Oneida said
that Zack could make it and that he isn’t some-
one we are going to throw away in placement,
which is what other service providers had been
telling me.”
As a first step, Melissa worked with Kids
Oneida Medical Director Dr. Raju and a team of
staff and providers to build her son’s behavior
modification plan. Opposed to any unneces-
sary medication use, Kids Oneida and Melissa
exhausted all techniques in the plan prior to
considering a prescription. “At first, I dug my
heels in. I was frightened about it and what it
would do to him. Dr. Raju was so cautious and
attentive. We started small and the difference
was like flipping a light switch. Zack became
who he really was meant to be and I can’t
imagine having made this decision without
their support.”
At Zack’s first meetings with Medical Director,
Dr. Raju, he didn’t say a word and covered his
head with his jacket. To Melissa, Kids Oneida
never felt like going to a clinic. “They make you
feel welcomed because they truly care. I tell my
sons, ‘These are our friends, they are people
we trust, and we can tell them absolutely
anything.’”
Now, at their Saturday morning appointments,
Dr. Raju comes to the door to greet the family
and Zack goes right up to say hello. With the
confidence to communicate, Zack now meets
individually with Dr. Raju and, at age 8, has
learned to build trusting relationships.
W
“ Before Kids Oneida, Thadius was depressed, felt worthless, and didn’t know where to go or who to talk to. And those were the same feelings I was having. My hands were tied like I was held prisoner to our situation.”
– Charles, Thadius’ father
KIDS ONEIDA 2015 ANNUAL REPORT 1514 OUR PEOPLE, OUR COMMUNITY
Our Parent Partners—all of whom have children with
behavioral health challenges—are allies, advocates, and
trainers for parents and caregivers whose children are
currently enrolled in our programs.
Parent Partners’ first-hand experience facilitates trust,
credibility, and empathy with caregivers facing similar
struggles as their own. Grounded in the realities of our
parents’ lives and communities, our Parent Partners
develop practical, creative solutions making use of natural
resources, and are an essential support in keeping fam-
ilies together. As Kids Oneida youth often interact with
multiple systems, Parent Partners are adept at helping
caregivers navigate complex processes within and across
mental health, social services, juvenile justice, education,
and child welfare.
As credentialed New York State Office of Mental Health
Family Peer Advocates and trained in Families Together
New York State’s Parent Empowerment Program, our four
Parent Partners provide individualized coaching, training,
and peer support and convene monthly Parent Support
Groups at Kids Oneida, which encourage parents to
learn from one another. Centered on empowerment and
self-sufficiency, our Parent Partners provide parents with
the tools and resources to advocate for themselves and
the rights of their children.
Parent Partners | Experts by Experience
JenniferPederson,
Parent Partner
Charles,Kids Mohawk Valley
Parent
A champion of family voice and engagement, Kids Oneida launched Parent Partners fifteen years ago.
Johanna Johnson, Parent Partner
Jennifer Pedersen, Parent Partner
Lynn Stevens, Parent Partner Leader
Tara Day, Parent Partner
Not pictured: Dria Freeman, Parent Parther
ne year ago, father Charles Schook was
on the verge of giving up his 12 year old son
Thadius. Despite his best efforts, the single
father felt he had exhausted all other options.
His son’s behavioral challenges had escalated
to almost daily altercations and other community-
based services couldn’t provide the intensity
of support that Thadius needed.
After Thadius’ school recommended that he
be designated as a Person In Need of Supervi-
sion (PINS), Charles took matters into his own
hands, voluntarily referring his son to Family
Court. It was this action that finally brought
the Schook family the resources they needed.
According to Charles, “Kids Oneida shed a
whole different light on the situation from
the first minute they walked in our front door.
They made me feel comfortable, relaxed, and
calm and offered perspective on how we could
handle this situation with their assistance.”
Parent Partner Jennifer Pedersen—a specialist
in children’s educational rights from advocating
for her own daughter—worked with Charles
to make a plan. After hearing that Thadius was
physically restrained by school staff, repeatedly
suspended, and that Charles feared his son
might hurt himself or someone else, Jennifer
knew they needed to act quickly. Within one
week, Charles documented his son’s educational
needs, wrote to his son’s teachers, principal,
and the superintendent, and organized a meet-
ing to for a new behavioral plan for Thadius.
With our guidance, Charles advocated for his
son’s rights, learned to communicate effectively
with the school system and, in this process,
felt better about his ability to raise his child.
Charles agrees that Thadius is a true success
story: “Kids Oneida made him feel like he was
somebody again. They helped him rediscover
his self worth and confidence. His attitude
changed toward himself, others, and me.”
Today, Charles has taken his advocacy to the
next level, setting up meetings with local and
state system leaders to help them understand
the importance of intensive, community-based
services like Kids Oneida.
O
“ We started with Charles’ rights as a parent, and his son’s rights as a child with an Individualized Education Plan. I told him, ‘I’m not here forever. I need you to know what I know so that you can advocate for Thadius.’
He took that advice and ran with it.” – Jennifer Pederson
Learning to Advocate:One Parent’s Path
81 clients served in 2015
4 Parent Partners applied and successfully received credentialing as Family Peer Advocates
10 parents on average that attended bi-weekly Parent Support Groups
KIDS ONEIDA 2015 ANNUAL REPORT 1716 OUR PEOPLE, OUR COMMUNITY
Reaching Beyond Kids and Oneida
Coming up...
While our commitment to kids and Oneida County are steadfast, our organization has long worked with more than just kids.
Our whole family approach, which includes parents, care-givers, siblings, relatives, and mentors, is key in achieving success, as is our focus on transforming child-serving systems.
Moving toward 2016, Kids Oneida will be given the opportunity to reach out even further, contributing to systems change at the regional and state level and bringing services to more children and more families than ever before.
A Transforming Children’s Behavioral Health System
Kids Oneida strengthened internal systems in 2015 to prepare for the upcoming children’s behavioral health system reforms. In 2016, a major first step in this process will occur with the establishment of Children’s Health Homes. The innovative Kids Mohawk Valley program has prepared Kids Oneida for this opportunity and has allowed our organiza-tion to lead the industry in the face of unprecedented reform.
Strengthening Supports and Services for Adults
In 2015, Kids Oneida was approved to become a designated Home and Community Based Services provider in NY. This designation will allow us to provide family support, peer empowerment services, psychosocial rehabili-tation, and habilitation assistance to adults. Additionally, Kids Oneida will be a downstream care manage-ment agency through Adult Health Homes. Now more than half the clients we serve are adults.
Cross-System Collaboration through Partnerships with Education Systems
Through a partnership with Boys Town, a national non-profit, we offered the evidence-based Well Managed Schools model to a number of school professionals in 2015. Moving into 2016, Kids Oneida will look to provide more comprehensive school based services directly to students with severe behavioral problems in the school setting to reach their individual educational and therapeutic goals.
Behavioral Health Access for Child Protective Services
Kids Oneida launched an initiative in partnership with New York State Office of Children and Family Services and local County Department of Social Services Child Protective Services units to bring behavioral health screening, identifica-tion, and assessment directly to their units. Our model co-locates a licensed social worker within CPS. Launched in Herkimer and Otsego Counties, this initiative brings significant added capacity and expertise in mental health, substance abuse, and behavioral health directly to clients.
Juvenile Justice System Reform
With our organization’s track record of building seamless reentry pipelines for youth and promoting cross-system coordination, we will continue to bring our juvenile justice work to five new counties in 2016, and deepen our work in Oneida. In partnership with the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, we were selected as 1 of 6 grantees from across the country for the Federal Second Chance Act Smart on Juvenile Justice grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
Cross-SystemCollaboration
& Coordination
2.
Commitmentto Community -
BasedServices
3.
ComprehensiveContinuum
of Care
4.
SupportingSystem
Transformation
5.
InnovativeResource
AlignmentStrategies
6.
Family-Centered Network of
ServiceProviders
1.We manage a network of over 192 service providers to ensure that
supports tailored to individual needs are available. This model ensures
high quality service provision, as clients directly assess and select which
providers from our network they identify as best meeting their needs.
For family and youth serving systems, we manage
inter-agency teams to facilitate improved effectiveness
and efficiency of our work.
Providing alternatives to institutional care leads to
better outcomes for families. It also helps counties
create cost avoidance and find ways to reinvest
funds in cost-effective, community-based strategies.
Our range of services spans from prenatal care to
support for grandparents who are primary caretakers.
Across this continuum, our supports are integrated
and seamless, with flexibility by design.
Kids Oneida partners with local, county, and state
entities to support system reforms that increase
access to community-based services, decrease
reliance on out of home placement, and improve
outcomes for youth, families, and the community.
Our innovative blended funding model aligns
resources toward a central goal: improved
outcomes for youth, families, and the community
by investing in community-based supports.
Financials 2015 Events
Nicholas D. Laino Golf Classic
Adopt a Family
Mental Health Awareness Month
Par4Kids Ladies Golf Tournament
Thanksgiving Turkey Drive
Photovoice
Bald Mountain Staff Wellness Day
Intergenerational Clean Up
Family of the Year Celebration
Kids Herkimer Community Event Movie Night in the Park
“Team KO” - Heart Run & Walk
KIDS ONEIDA 2015 ANNUAL REPORT 1918 OUR PEOPLE, OUR COMMUNITY
Kids Oneida spent 2015 involved in many important and fun events to celebrate our families and staff, raise awareness,
and support for our vision and mission as well as support our community.
We provided over 400 families in 2015 with Thanksgiving dinners and gifts for the kids for their holiday season. Team Kids
Oneida participated in the Heart Run and Walk, an Intergenerational Clean Up to support our aging neighbors, as well as a
movie night and health expo event in Herkimer County. Staff wellness was a focus in 2015 and several events and activities
supported this, including a hiking trip to Bald Mountain, weekly yoga and mindfulness groups, and educational activities. Kids
Oneida celebrated with our partners and sponsors via our annual golf events to help bring our vision to life and celebrated our
families’ successes through mentoring relationships at an amazing night at the Stanley for our annual Photovoice event.
2015 Revenue by Source* 2015 Expenses by Function*
2015 Impact of Our People
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
$9,000,000
$8,000,000
$7,000,000
$6,000,000
Revenue Trend - 5 Years
$6,503,319
$7,898,574$8,213,329
$8,838,404
$6,806,002
10Administrative
110Staff
192Service Providers
312Total individuals
that are helping to
keep families together
1,356families supported by
Kids Oneida in 2015
+ + =
53%
21%
16%
5% 5%
Salaries and Fringe $ 3,726,000
Providers $ 3,076,000
General Administration $ 840,000
Office and Program $ 830,000
Plant, Property and Equipment $ 230,000
TOTAL $ 8,702,000
Oneida County $ 4,651,000
New York State $ 1,861,000
Medicaid $ 1,426,000
Herkimer County $ 478,000
Other Revenue $ 422,000
TOTAL $ 8,838,000
* Amounts rounded to nearest thousand
43%
35%
10%
3%
9%
A Lasting Investment in Community At the height of the industrial revolution, our region’s growth emanated from the Bagg’s Square area of the City of Utica. Strategically positioned along the Erie Canal and the railroad, which reached Utica in 1836, Bagg’s Square served as the hub of trade and commerce. In addition to two hotels, Utica’s opulent Union Train Station, and a myriad stores and factories, Bagg’s Square housed the Utica Daily Press at 310 Main Street.
Built in 1904 and designed by renowned architect Frederick H. Gouge, the Utica Daily Press Building has been on the United States National Register of Historic Places since 1993. Over the years, it has also been home to Dodge Graphic Press and Gaffney Communications. Recognizing an opportunity to preserve an historic institution and contribute to Utica’s downtown revitalization, Kids Oneida purchased, renovated, and relocated to the Utica Daily Press Building in 2009.
Over the last six years, our commitment to community has deepened. This home has reinvigorated our staff, providers, and clients and further establishes our organization’s long-term sustainability. It is important that the youth and families we serve know that they can rely on us and that we will be here for them. Like the Bagg’s Square area, our organization is dynamic, resilient, and thriving. With a strong foundation in the heart of Utica, Kids Oneida is proud to bring our model to youth and families across the region.
310 Main StreetUtica, New York 13501
T 315.792.9039F 315.731.2616kidsoneida.org
Rosario Dalia, Board PresidentPaul Vitagliano, Jr., Vice PresidentWilliam McDonald, Secretary/Treasurer Crystal BassDavid BrunoGail RiceJames Salamy
2015 Board of Directors